Senegal politics: presidential advisor denies secret pact claims

As Senegal’s PASTEF party prepares for its highly anticipated congress, tensions within the ruling coalition have resurfaced following recent statements by opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Presidential advisor Aldiouma Sow has forcefully refuted allegations of a so-called “secret pact” allegedly brokered by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye during his detention at Cap Manuel.

Aldiouma Sow emphasized that the Head of State never engaged in any clandestine agreements, stressing that Bassirou Diomaye Faye remained steadfast in his political convictions throughout the 2024 transition. The advisor categorically dismissed claims that the President participated in any scheme to undermine Senegal’s democratic process. “He has never supported any maneuver aimed at hijacking the sovereign will of the Senegalese people to elect their preferred candidate,” Sow declared.

Delving deeper into the President’s approach to governance, Aldiouma Sow described dialogue as a core principle in Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s political philosophy—not a tactical tool for managing power dynamics. According to Sow, for the President, dialogue represents an intrinsic value guiding both institutional and political decision-making.

This intervention comes amid growing speculation within PASTEF’s ranks and among its supporters ahead of the upcoming party congress. Aldiouma Sow’s remarks have reignited discussions about the relationship between Senegal’s top political leaders and the future direction of the administration.